Clos des Centenaires Grenache Vieilles Vignes

Clos des Centenaires Grenache Vieilles Vignes is a single-varietal red of red Grenache hailing directly from the I.G.P. Pays d'Oc, on the southern coast of France. Crafted by Clos de Centenaires, this red wine features smooth tannins, freshness, and is ideal for ageing. Its creators, Luc Baudet and Bruno François, strive to produce "digestible and elegant" wines, steering clear of "over-extraction."

Their labour begins in the old vines spread across 7 hectares, where they cultivate varieties such as Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, and red Grenache. The vines - oriented east-west - are tended manually, with utmost respect for the terroir, thriving on the pebbly Villafranchien soils (characteristic of the region). Shallow ploughing and meticulous attention to soil revitalization are among the other secrets of Clos de Centenaires. The Mediterranean Sea (merely 20 km away), the Mistral wind, seasonal rainfall, and the breezes from the Camargue ponds (less than 2 km away) all contribute to the grapes' optimal ripening. Specifically, these air masses and humidity are crucial as they mitigate thermal contrasts (the cold air masses interact with the surface pebbles of the soil, which retain heat, softening the low temperatures of these air currents and reducing contrasts).

Harvesting is entirely by hand, with the grapes arriving at the winery well-balanced in acidity and sweetness. For red wines like Clos des Centenaires Grenache Vieilles Vignes, the grapes undergo pre-fermentation maceration in concrete tanks with indigenous yeasts. Following this stage, malolactic fermentation occurs manually, and the ageing period - carried out in cellars with controlled temperatures and humidity - varies for each cuvée. In the case of Clos des Centenaires Grenache Vieilles Vignes, it will spend 1 year in French oak barrels. Once it has reached its full potential, Clos des Centenaires Grenache Vieilles Vignes is bottled on the estate by the winery itself.